The Pakistan Junior League is an upcoming professional 20-over cricket league which will feature Under-19 teams from across Pakistan. It was soft-launched on 14 April 2022 by Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja. It will be played in the country’s major cities. It will feature Viv Richards, Shahid Afridi, Colin Munro and Luc Benkenstein among others.
Shahid Afridi
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has expressed his interest in buying a franchise in the Pakistan Junior League. The league is set to begin in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium in October, with the first games taking place on October 1. Six franchise teams from across the country will compete in the league, with young players selected via a draft system. In addition, iconic players such as Shahid Afridi will serve as coaches and mentors.
Afridi, Pakistan’s former captain, believes that cricket can help improve the relationship between the two countries. His remarks come amid speculation that the two sides could play a bilateral T20I series this year. If successful, it would be the first such series between the two countries since 2012/13. Afridi believes that sports are a good distraction from politics, and he says Indian players enjoy coming to Pakistan.
The PCB has appointed six former players as mentors for the tournament. Imran Tahir, Shoib Malik, and Shahid Afridi are the mentors for Bahawalpur and Gujranwala, respectively. Daren Sammy, Imran Tahir, and Shahid Afridi are each the mentors for a specific team. In addition to Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan Junior League also features former players like Imran Khan and Imran Tahir. The games will begin at 6pm local time, with the aim of promoting the participation of schoolchildren.
Colin Munro
Imran Tahir is a former Pakistani cricketer who made his international debut during the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in 1998. He later moved to South Africa and made his Test and ODI debut for the Proteas in 2011. He has played a total of 107 ODIs, 38 T20Is, and 20 Tests for his country, taking 293 wickets in the process. He has also represented New Zealand, playing 65 T20 matches and seven Tests.
Munro made his first-class debut for Auckland in 2006, but did not make an impact in the longer format until the 2011-12 season. During this period, he scored three centuries, including an unbeaten 269 off 252 balls against Wellington. He has also represented New Zealand at the Under-19 level and currently plays for the Auckland cricket team.
Munro, who is also a mentor for the Rawalpindi Raiders, says Pakistan’s bowling attack is formidable, and every batsman needs time to develop. However, he also believes that New Zealand cricketers must do something in the World Cup to prove themselves.
Munro’s appointment to the Pakistan Junior League is part of a recent shake-up of the Pakistan cricket board. In addition to Munro, Pakistan Super League veteran Imran Tahir is also a mentor. Former Pakistan cricketers Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, and Darryl Sammy have also been appointed as mentors. However, critics have been critical of the PCB’s decision to bring in outside coaches.
The Pakistan Junior League will be held in October and matches will begin at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on October 6 and conclude on October 21. The tournament features six teams and mentored by former international players, aspiring Pakistani cricketers will be able to get valuable experience by taking part in the tournament.
Luc Benkenstein
The Essex all-rounder, Luc Benkenstein, has made his Pakistan debut for the Gwadar Sharks. He scored 33 runs off 25 balls and took two wickets. Gwadar Sharks defeated Gujranwala Giants by 44 runs in the ninth match of the Pakistan Junior League. With the victory, Gwadar have climbed to the top of the six-team table, with three wins from as many games. Meanwhile, Gujranwala Giants are facing early elimination.
Benkenstein is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm leg break bowler. In the tournament so far, he has scored 45 runs and taken two wickets. Gwadar Sharks also have two right-handed batsman Haseeb Nazim, who has scored eighty runs and taken three wickets. In addition, the team has a right-arm medium fast bowler, Arafat Minhas-I. Both players are worth picking in your fantasy cricket leagues.
Benkenstein has the fastest bowling average in the Pakistan Junior League. He averages 8.50 and takes wickets with an impressive strike rate. He has taken two wickets in two DT20 innings, with two LBWs and one lbw. Luc Benkenstein has also taken two wickets in a DT20 innings.
Gwadar Sharks defeated Rawalpindi Raiders by 34 runs in their third match of the Pakistan Junior League. Luc Benkenstein and Arafat Minhas both played for the Sharks. They are mentored by Sir Vivian Richards.
The Pakistan Junior League is a T20 competition for Under-19 cricketers and will start on October 6. There will be six teams and young cricketers from different cities and countries across the world will compete in the competition. This league is a good opportunity for them to gain a chance to be noticed by selectors. In the future, the Pakistan Junior League will serve as a pathway for youngsters to play for their national teams.
